On-Campus Course Schedule for Spring 2023

Accountability Journalism

This course will offer a highly interactive experience in which students will learn the art of identifying reliable sources and cultivating them as sources of information as they seek the truth, one of the key tenets of ethical journalism. Students will examine the difference between fact and spin and truth and lies and how to identify which is which, especially as it applies to the political sphere. Students will use the Freedom of Information resources to try to get to the truth of what those in power are saying. They will analyze fact-checking operations of a broad range of news organizations and interview a journalist who has fact-checking as part of their portfolio to help them understand what skills are important. They will acquire skills to do their own fact-checking, both during live simulations and after-the-fact responses, and to identify and point out misinformation that is spreading across social media platforms. Clear, concise and accurate writing and reporting will be emphasized throughout the course. This class will build on the skills that students acquired during the Journalism Ethics, Reporting and Newswriting and Digital Essentials courses, as well as Journalism electives like Political Reporting and Investigative Reporting.

Audio Storytelling

Audio storytelling is an art form that when mastered is one of the most effective methods of communicating to a mass audience. In the evolving world of multimedia presentations, the principles of storytelling through compelling characters and natural sound have remained unchanged - from human-interest stories and profiles to audio postcards and podcasts. It’s a craft mastered by journalists and communicators in public radio for decades. Content generators must consider audio production as part of their communication arsenal, as it may – at times – be a fairly inexpensive method of delivering messages to groups of people. In this course, journalists and communication specialists will learn the fundamental principles of how to put together audio pieces that tells an interesting story by using a strong narrative and recorded sounds. Students will develop interviewing skills, field recording techniques and the use of multi-track audio production software. They will learn the different stages of putting together sound-rich audio stories and how to publish their work on multimedia outlets.

Note: JO Students must have the prerequisites of MPJO 501 Reporting and News Writing and MPJO 508 Photo and video storytelling to enroll. This course is cross-listed with MPPR 723.

Dig. Analytics & Measurement

This course examines the processes for gathering, interpreting, and presenting compelling digital data. Students will learn to use digital public opinion polling, specialized reports, social media platforms, digital analysis tools, and news aggregators to explain market research, audience trends, and social conversations. Students will also create data visualization tools to streamline data presentation into succinct, engaging formats.

Note: This course is cross-listed with MPPR-506 and MPMC-806. This course is housed in the Integrated Marketing and Communications program. Students must have completed MPJO-501 Reporting and News Writing, MPJO 500 Ethics, MPJO 508 Photo and Video Storytelling, and MPJO 505 Digital Essentials to take this course.

Digital Essentials for Journalists

This course examines the essential digital skills needed in the field of journalism today. We will study the current media landscape to help students understand how digital skills and sensibilities are integrated with reporting, content creation, information dissemination and audience building efforts at news organizations of all sizes. The course involves a survey of key issues affecting the day-to-day work of modern journalists, as well as an examination of emerging technologies, platforms and ideas. Case studies, readings, media surveillance and guest lectures will help students learn the core skills needed to broaden their career opportunities; to add to their fundamental reporting background; and to think entrepreneurially about how to shape journalism. The final project will consist of a semester-long, team-created digital project that implements the full range of skills covered in the course. Students will: • learn practical, effective and applicable digital skills • create and distribute original content • investigate how individuals build traditional or unique journalism careers • develop and debate ideas using a collaborative, interactive team approach • display learning in class discussions, writing assignments and the final project This course is required for all MPS Journalism students. In order to satisfy graduation requirements, students must earn a B (3.00) or higher. Any student who fails to do so must repeat the course.

Note: Foundation course required for the Journalism program. This course requires a 'B' or better grade.

Environmental Reporting

The Gulf oil spill. The Japan nuclear disaster. Global warming. These topics all fall on the environmental/energy beat. In this class, students will learn how to report and write articles for the news media about complex environmental and energy issues _ so they can effectively cover an environmental story, which can turn up on any beat (Trust me, I’ve written environmental stories for the sports page about mold on the roof of Houston’s Minute Maid Park). To do that, they will learn the basic science behind major environmental problems, get a primer on major environmental laws, and practice translating science for the lay public. We will examine how to cover environmental disasters _ which often require help from non-specialty reporters _ and how to communicate risk without falsely alarming the reader. We will also mine publicly available environmental databases to find stories, and discuss how to cover perhaps the most far-reaching and complex environmental issue of our time: global warming. Lastly, we will talk about achieving balance in environmental reporting, and look at examples of environmental coverage that take a side. This is a course that will teach students the basics of beat reporting _ for a beat that cannot be limited to Congress, federal agencies, or the like. The environmental beat can be found in the courthouse, in the state house, at the local garbage dump _ and in every person’s backyard. It is local, regional and global. How will we do all this? Each student will select a beat that they will follow throughout the semester. They will be expected to produce one breaking, spot news story off that beat and one longer enterprise story. They will also select and track an environmental beat reporter for the semester, since the best way to learn journalism is to read and do journalism. At the end of the course, they will be able to produce an enterprise piece that includes all of the essential elements of a great environmental story: expert opinion, real people, descriptive writing, and numbers to back it up.

Note: This course requires one pre-requisite class MPJO-501 Reporting and News Writing.

Journalism Internship II

Internships are a great way for students to gain real-world experiences and network with professionals in the field. Many employers require at least some internship experience to appear on a student’s resume. Taking on an internship while in the MPS Journalism program can help students integrate and enhance the skills they are learning in the classroom with professional, hands-on experiences. Students must participate in the internship according to the guidelines furnished by the employer, and they will be required to submit a weekly 500 word writing assignment reflecting on the successes and challenges of the internship. At the end of each semester, the student’s supervisor must complete an evaluation of the student’s performance, and submit it directly to the MPS Journalism program. ** Students must receive approval from the MPS Journalism program prior to enrolling in the Internship class. Note: Extensive, documented academic activity and experiential learning outside of classroom (min. 6-8 hours per week) is required.

Note: Registration requires department approval and a manual add by your Program Director. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-863-01 and MPMC 773-01. The prerequisite for this course is MPJO 860 internship one class.

MPS Journalism Capstone

The Master of Professional Studies Journalism degree program culminates in the Capstone. Each student produces a substantive and original reporting project on a timely issue that showcases his/her talents as a prospective journalist. It should be a major work of professional quality that requires extensive legwork, interviewing and research and will become the centerpiece of your portfolio. The Capstone experience is intended to provide students an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the journalistic skills, ethics and initiative necessary to be a professional journalist. The Capstone project is an independent reporting endeavor. Class sessions provide feedback and structure. Group instructors will give you guidance throughout the semester, and your small groups will serve as mini-newsrooms where you will be expected to give each other feedback and support. Successful completion of the MPSJ degree also requires submitting an ethics essay that reflects on your firsthand experience as a journalist. The essay will be graded as one of the assignments in the Capstone class. This is a core course of the MPS Journalism program, and students must earn a “B” (83) or higher to pass the course. Please see the Graduate Student Handbook for more details. Students with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA who receive a final grade of a B- or below may receive one opportunity to retake the course, if approved by the dean.

Note: Students must have completed MPJO 500 Ethics, MPJO 501 Reporting, and News Writing, MPJO 505 Digital Essentials, and MPJO 508 Photo and Video Storytelling. This course must be taken in the student's final semester.

MPS Journalism Internship

Internships are a great way for students to gain real-world experiences and network with professionals in the field. Many employers require at least some internship experience to appear on a student’s resume. Taking on an internship while in the MPS Journalism program can help students integrate and enhance the skills they are learning in the classroom with professional, hands-on experiences. Students must participate in the internship according to the guidelines furnished by the employer, and they will be required to submit a weekly 500 word writing assignment reflecting on the successes and challenges of the internship. At the end of each semester, the student’s supervisor must complete an evaluation of the student’s performance, and submit it directly to the MPS Journalism program. ** Students must receive approval from the MPS Journalism program prior to enrolling in the Internship class.

Note: Requires approval of the MPS Journalism program and a manual add by the Program Advisor. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-863-01 and MPMC 773-01.

Photo and Video Storytelling

Foundation requirement for Journalism majors. This course requires a grade of "B" or better to pass. Additional 150 minute distance learning component required Course Description: This course is designed to give the student the ability to communicate in the Video Age--whether for television or the web. We call it storytelling to emphasize the communication of ideas, rather than simply the technical knowledge of shooting and editing video. Students will begin by learning how shots work together, how to write compelling scripts, and how to use audio for best effect. Then students will work with professional camera equipment to develop shooting, lighting, and audio skills. The class will also have hands-on instruction in editing techniques using Final Cut Pro. By the end of the course, students should be comfortable in the video storytelling process--from the flash of an idea, to the finished product on the screen, in the field, and in the studio. Students who entered the MPS Journalism program in Summer 2010 and thereafter must complete this class and receive a grade of solid "B" (3.00) or higher in order to graduate.

Note: This is a JO foundation class.

Reporting and News Writing

Journalism begins with basic reporting. This class focuses on the basics of beat reporting, one of the building blocks of any newsroom and journalism career. The class will also take a closer look at the reporting and writing process, from finding an idea to researching it, pitching it and executing it into a publishable article. Students will strive to become experts on the neighborhood they cover through old-school shoe leather reporting and will keep abreast of spot news while learning how to identify and pursue longer-form enterprise stories. The class will also have a Twitter handle and Facebook page — DChoods — where students will publish routinely and practice writing for social media and cultivating sources and finding story ideas using these new tools. The updates on Twitter and Facebook will not just be news stories, but also tidbits collected during visits to the neighborhood, which should be visited weekly at minimum. This is a core course of the MPS Journalism program, and students must earn a “B” (83) or higher to pass the course. Please see the Graduate Student Handbook for more details.

Note: Foundation requirement for the Journalism Program. This course requires a grade of "B" or better. This course serves as a pre-requisite for many elective courses.